saunter English · revision 1364

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈsɔːntə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈsɔntɚ/, /ˈsɑntɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is of uncertain origin,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) probably from Middle English ''santren'' “to muse”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) Etymonline notes that the walking sense may be a different word,^(Etymonline) and mentions a theory deriving it from Anglo-French ''sauntrer'' and French ''s'aventurer'' “to take risks”, which the OED finds unlikely.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To muse or be in a reverie (about 1475), a sense now obsolete.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense of walking at a leisurely, careless pace appears before 1667.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) The verb also meant to loiter over work (1673).^(OED 1989) The noun meant a leisurely gait (1712) and idle occupation (1728),^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and a leisurely stroll from 1828.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 1475 – to muse.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1667 – to stroll.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1673 – to dawdle over work.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1712 – noun, a leisurely gait.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1828 – noun, a stroll.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To walk in a slow, relaxed way; to [[stroll]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A leisurely walk.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A leisurely pace.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[saunterer]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House gives ''amble'', ''ramble'' and ''meander'' as synonyms.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}